Mr. Disney, it's obvious that you have touched the lives of millions of children by teaching them many important lessons that they will learn to grow up on and that magic does, and always will, exist in the world. With your timeless stories, beloved characters and magical theme parks, there is no doubt that you are one of the most outstanding animators and film producers that will ever live. As we grow up, you begin to become more and more forgotten among our generation, even though your lessons that you taught us as children apply more than ever today. You deserve to be recognized for the lessons that we continue to learn from.
1. Thank you for not giving up.
"All the adversity I've had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me.. You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you."
In today's society, it becomes easier and easier to give up every day. As college students, we face countless failures daily. Whether it's a bad grade or a breakup, you taught us that we need to accept our failures to keep moving forward. Knowing that even you declared bankruptcy at the age of 23 and still managed to become one of the most influential people of the 20th century gives us hope to try harder for next time.
2. Thank you for being brave enough follow through with your dreams.
"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them."
One of the best ways to encourage a college student to give up is to criticize his or her goals and dreams, which happens far more often than we would like it to. With your constant perseverance, you've achieved dreams that I'm sure you never even imagined could come true.
3. Thank you for giving us characters to help us deal with a dark and twisted world.
We live in a pessimistic society, but fortunately, we are still able to find magic with the help of our favorite childhood Disney character. They also remind us simple, yet important lessons in life that we seem to forget when we are caught up in the stress of our daily schedules, such as letting your conscience be your guide, accepting those who are not like you, being true to yourself, and remembering to whistle while you work.
4. Thank you for Mickey Mouse.
"I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing, that it was all started by a mouse."
You have provided us with the world's most iconic hero who relates to us so well, that we sometimes forget that he's a mouse. He reminds us to to always find the good in a bad situation, even when it seems like there is no good in it. His smile can warm the hearts of almost anyone. He teaches us to work hard, stay positive, and love others. Mickey Mouse has changed the world and will always be the the best character to ever exist. Thank you for trusting your whole legacy in his hands.
5. Thank you for a magical escape.
Your ideas for Disneyland and Walt Disney World are probably your most bizarre ideas, but definitely some of your best as well. Who wouldn't love to escape from all types of stress to be able to act like a kid again, or visit a world where you can meet your favorite characters, while being a part of many other stories? Your vision for these parks still inspires millions today. The Disney Parks aren't just a theme park where magic comes to life—they're a lesson that even the poorest of poor have the potential to build a kingdom.
On the behalf of college students everywhere, I thank you, Mr. Walt Disney.
